Switch



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDYVABD J. BEARD AND HOWARD V. HINCKLEY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,506, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed August 14, 1882. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD J. BEARD and HOWARD V. HINCKLEY, citizens of the United btates, both residing atTopeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

Ou-r invention relates to improvements in railroad-switches, in which the stand is made low and simple, and is placed in a certain position with reference to the end of the switchrail; and the objects of our improvements are, first, to economize track-room second, to secure equal throws of the switch-rail; and, third. attain security by excluding from use all boxes, nuts, and bolts, which in ordinary switch-fixtures are subject to careless or malicious misplacement. \Ve attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figore l is avertical section in the line A B, Fig. 2, ofour switch in working position; Fig. 2, a plan of the switch-stand and its connection with the switch-rail; Fig.3, a horizontal section ofthe verticalarm of the switchcrank coupled to the end of the connectingrod; Fig. 4, an elevation of the switch-stand and its connection with the switch-rail; and Fig. 5, a geometrical diagram, showing the operation of the principle by which equal throws are secured to the switch-rail.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. I

The stand 0, secured to the head-block D, constitutes the base of the machine on which the crank E, centered by the pins F and G, is made to revolve by means of the lever B, attached to the crank E by a pin at I. The crank E in its revolution carries with it the connecting-rod K, which moves the switch-rail L to its fit connection with the several fixed rails M. The stand 0 is provided with two pinholes, which act as journal-boxes for the pins the main track.

F and G, and also with a flange, N. The stand should be so placed that the line (I i, Fig. 5, should run just midway between the center of motion of the switch-lever and the center of the bearing X when the lever is parallel with The crank E is provided with pins F and G, onto which it is shrunk,

the revolving switch in common use.

these pins, in connection with the crank, serving the same purpose as the vertical shaft in The combination of the crank E with the pins F and G and stand 0, as above indicated, does away with the use of all journal-boxes, bolts,

and nuts. The pin projects upward sufficiently to hold switch-signals. The lug O on the stand 0 prevents the connecting-rod K from being lifted off the ring P, except when the rod is so turned that; the slot V comes directly under this lug O, and when in this position the connecting-rod can be lifted from the ring P, and removed from the crank.

In Fig. 1 lever H is shown in position and locked. In throwing the switch the lever is raised out of the slot Q, to the position shown by the dotted lines, and is prevented by the knob R from being raised above a determined height. When the switch is thrown to either ot'its positions the lever H, as in the ordinary revolvingswitch-stands,fallsinto a slot, Q,corresponding with such position, the lug S fallinginto the slot, and bringing the hole in it beneath the slot, so as to receive the hasp of the look, as indicated. The crank E is provided with a ring at P, around which the connecting-rod K revolves. The ends of the connecting-rod diit'er in construction. The eye X in the crank end being of the proper diameter to fit about the ring P, with a slot, V, in the rim, to allow. the vertical portion of the crank. E to pass into and out of the eye when turned to the proper point. The eye in the other end of the connecting-bar fits onto the pin W, which is part of the bar that ties the switchrails, and to which is transmitted the motion imparted to the lever H. The connecting-rod, turning about this pin, extends so far beyond it as to pass under the head of the rail, and is thus secure against careless or malicious displacement, which is possible in case of the bolt-nut and split-key connections in common use.

In Fig. 5 full lines show the apparatus ad- 9 pins F and G, the arc coj 0 being the route traveled by the center of the eye X in throwing the switch-rail L to its different positions M. The different positions of the center of the pin W are represented byg, h, and 73, while 0 t',j h, and a 9 represent the three different positions of the connecting-rod K. The position of the flange N on the stand G is such that the line (11 ,011 which X travels, is midway between 12 andj, the distances 1) a and 0 being. each equal to one-half the throw of the switch-rail L. Now, given c L) h, b h,"and tag mutually equal, and by similar triangles c t and b h are parallel, rendering b c and h 2' parallels between parallel lines equal. In the same wayg h equal a b, but (6 b equals 1) 0. Therefore 9 h equals h Again 9 It and h t are the distances traveled by the center of the pin W, and are identical with the several throws of the switch-rail, whose equality is hereby assured, regardless of the absolute length of the connecting-rod K or crank E.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination and arrangement of the switch-stand, its horizontal crank, the rod K,

and its connection at W with the switch-rail in such manner that the line of travel of the point shall bisect a line joining the centers ot'P and F G when the latter stands parallel to the track, for the purpose of equalizing the throws of the switch.

2. The combination of the crank E with the pins F and G and stand 0, for the purpose of economizing room and securing simplicity in construction.

The connecting-rod K in combination with the eye X, slot V, ring 1 lug 0, pin W, and the projection of the rod K under the head of the switch-rail for the purpose of attaining security and simplicity, as hereinbefore specified.

4:- In combination with the switch-rail and the vertical pivot-pin W, formed on the switchbar, the rod K, having its end extended beyond said pin, and engaging under the head of the rail, for the purposes set forth.

EDWARD J. BEARD. HOWARD V. HINOKLEY. Witnesses:

GHAs. SPALDING, R. O. SIMoNs. 

